As relations between the U.S. and Iran waver, Eugene protesters gathered downtown Thursday calling for peace, not war. This comes after President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Iran is “standing down.”
Several Vietnam Veterans stood among the crowd of around 60 demonstrators. One briefly disrupted fellow veteran State Senator James Manning
“Dignity and respect is something that we are lacking. And in order for us to get that back we have to remember that war is not the answer,” Manning said as he continued his speech.
Other vets spoke out against further escalations with Iran. Mike Peterson, a Vietnam Veteran said he has PTSD and is against conflict.
“Future wars should be declared by an act of congress not a presidential act. The last war we won was World War 2 and that was an act of congress,” Peterson said. Peterson added that war should only occur as a last resort.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in congress are pushing for limits on the president’s ability to take military action without their approval.
Copyright 2020, KLCC
